travel tales & silly stories

My travel adventures have resulted in some incredible travel stories over the years. Some are uplifting tales of the best of people, some are an overview of our biggest challenges in this world, but most of all - they are my experiences. Not just of the physical kind, but of the emotional kind. Unforgettable experiences that have been burnt into my psyche.

30 second advice #3 - Japan makes the best clothes pegs!

I know it seems like nothing - but Japan makes the absolute best clothes pegs. They aren't super travel friendly because they aren't small, but those babies will keep your hand wrung out polar fleece on the line in a friggin hurricane! They are wonderful creations and now that I'm down to my last two (they have survived 3½ years!) I'm seriously thinking about a trip back to Japan to get more! I'm not kidding - I've thought about it.

30 Second Advice # 2 - Never Assume There Won't Be Running.

This isn't my first underwear advice post, however unlike my last one (read it here) this is quick & easy. Ladies - never assume when you put on those lovely silky undies, underneath those relaxed fit Lycra yoga pants that you won't have to run at some point. We pulled into the camp ground at Etosha National Park right on dusk. The shop closes at dusk. The shop is also the bottle shop, liquor store, off-license - whatever you call it. Wouldn't have been a challenge except the shop is at the camp entrance and we were camping at the back. So a sprint through the park trying to run, hold up my pants which were sliding dangerously close to exposing parts I would rather keep private and I learnt very quickly. NEVER WEAR SILKY UNDIES AND SLINKY PANTS TOGETHER.

Luckily there were people in the shop and I got wine before she closed but it was touch and go with the pant-holding-weird-aussie-woman run going on!

30 Seconds Or Less Tip # 1 - TAKE THE DAMN CRAMPONS!

I'd never really used crampons outside of a very snowy or icy area so when Saori my Sapporo home stay host suggested them for the Snow Festival, I nearly said no. Lets face it they look weird, you feel like a goose and their name is just too close to "tampon" to be user friendly. Luckily, I didn't want to offend her and took the crampons.

Those things are lifesavers on the icy pavements. We enjoyed our night at the Snow Festival however we both got knocked over twice - both times by idiots who slipped over because they "DIDN'T TAKE THE DAMN CRAMPONS!"